there are unproven allegations that it is using some form of gas on the battlefront. activists say seven rebels have died from it with dozens of others affected. it smells like phosphorus, this one says. "it suffocates you. it makes you feel like your eyes are popping out, and the smell is unbearable." these weapons are unquestionably been used as the rebels are gaining more and more ground, but there is still fighting to do before they can get power in damascus, where the regime is showing no public sign of being ready to give up. bbc news, be read. >> now, some rather alarming news. apparently, the festivity is shrinking. according to chinese factories that make up so much of the world's festive decorations. we have been to a factory town to see the effect of falling global demand. >> by some estimates, this factory town in eastern china makes half of all of the christmas decorations sold around the world. but the ongoing global financial crisis means foreign buyers are changing their habits. of course, taller, factor trees are more expensive, so this year, they say